Financial Analyst Compliance, Business Operations

University of Saskatchewan•Saskatoon, SK

1d•CA$69,035 - CA$107,868•Hybrid

About The Position

The Research Finance Compliance Analyst is responsible for providing leadership, oversight, and management of a financial compliance strategy to ensure external funder terms and conditions and internal policies and procedures are met. This role supports researchers, research administrators, and the Office of the Vice-President Research by ensuring awareness and understanding of the impact of funding agency guidelines on research administration. The position collaborates within finance, with teams in the Office of the Vice-President Research, and with researchers and their support teams across campus, focusing on financial compliance, awareness, and process improvement. The role oversees and implements financial administration and monitoring processes for research funds to ensure revenues and expenditures are properly authorized, reviewed, documented, and reported in compliance with funder requirements, university policy, and generally accepted accounting principles. It provides advice, guidance, and support for the alignment and integration of business processes impacting research projects, and manages audit requests and questionnaires from external funders regarding internal controls over financial reporting for research. The working conditions are collaborative and can be demanding due to high volume, competing deadlines, and frequent interruptions, requiring effective time management.

Requirements

A relevant university degree, preferably in Commerce, Business, Accounting, or related fields.
A minimum of 3 years' experience in financial compliance related to research projects.
A professional accounting designation is required.
Demonstrated knowledge of accepted accounting rules, practices, tax laws, and reporting requirements for various granting agencies is required.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders in a diverse environment using communication and interpersonal skills.
The ability to make and deliver unpopular compliance decisions through analytical and critical thinking is required.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of the research project lifecycle is an asset.
Experience with business process improvement is preferred.

Responsibilities

Development and implementation of a Tri-Agency financial compliance strategy.
Establish a transaction sampling and review procedure informed by internal audit and compliance standards.
Establish review criteria of transactions for compliance and eligibility.
Orient, train, and support the research finance team in review procedures and follow-up.
Develop action plans for instances of non-compliance through advice and support on the specific matter as well as exploration of related policies, processes, and procedures.
In collaboration with OVPR teams, build awareness and understanding in the research community of the accountabilities and compliance requirements associated with holding and administering Tri-Agency funding.
Facilitate the review, renewal, and development of policies, processes, and procedures to ensure seamless compliance with Tri-Agency requirements.
Collaborate closely with relevant processing units within the university to enhance effectiveness of those policies, procedures, and processes.
Evaluate and support the assessment of the potential impact of new regulatory requirements on operational processes.
Develop detailed compliance strategy plans, including timelines, resources, and milestones. Monitor progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies.
Deliver quality assurance procedures to ensure reliability and integrity of research financial data Financial Operations is accountable for.
Develop and implement processes and control procedures to support the reliability and integrity of research financial data, through quality assurance procedures which ensures research project grants are set up in accordance with contractual obligations.
Responsible for the delivery of quality assurance procedures to ensure finance reports Financial Operations is accountable for, are completed in compliance with contractual obligations and expenditure limitations such as the Tri-Agency Guide on Financial Administration.
In collaboration with the OVPR teams, develop and implement awareness building through advice, support and knowledge transfer to the research community on financial compliance and eligibility issues for research awards held at USask.
Assists colleges and units with audits requested by funders.
Provide compliance and process expertise to the on-going operational processes and work of the Financial Operations team.
Collaborate with other campus business and transaction units to consider and incorporate research compliance requirements into their standard processes.
Other duties as assigned.